Windows 7: Adding "Program Manager" window to Win7

Been running Win 7 on a new build. I'm not nuts about it. Been using Windows since 3.1, and I always liked "program manager". I like having a window I can toggle to with all my APP shortcut cons, sorted by application, etc. I used to just set up a folder for this in XP, but in XP you could have the right side folder bar showing or not, which you can't do in Windows 7 (as far as I know). Is there any way to get rid of that frame and not have it affect ALL folders (like in WE) or is there any other way I could have a box/window/frame to hold sorted icons which I can toggle to. I hope this is clear, and great forum!

Of course, I know I can put them on the desktop, but I prefer this ;-)



TIA,

Dan

The method I use is to place all of my shortcuts in the All Programs menu by navigating to the location highlighted in yellow below and copying the shortcut from the folders (top) and pasting your shortcuts to the list (below).

The advantage is you can add as many shortcuts as you want and is readily available in Alphabetical order from the top of All Programs.

Or you can create a new customized folder then placing it in the folder list at top and adding your shortcuts to the folder see games folder screenie for example as I have placed all of my game shortcuts in that folder.




All Programs list

Same concept used in XP (see below) where shortcuts were in Alphabetical order at top before the program folders list begins

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program_Manager

Quote:

It is still possible to use the Program Manager in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or 3 (and Windows Vista or 7) by replacing (or copying if there was Windows Vista or 7 computer) the Progman.exe executable with the executable from Service Pack 1 or the Windows XP original retail release. With the SP1 (or original release) CD, one can expand it by typing expand -r D:\i386\progman.ex_ %Windir%at the command prompt (replacing D: with the CD-ROM drive letter). It is also possible to bypass theWindows File Protection and overwrite the SP2/SP3 version of Program Manager completely. Alternatively, the file can be saved to a different location or using a different filename. If Service Pack 3 has backed up previous files on an RTM or SP1 Windows XP installation, the backed up version can be accessed from: %Windir%\$NtServicePackUninstall$\Progman.exe

progman.zip

Give it a go! I can't get it to run in compatibility mode, but you may have better luck!

Thanks for the replies. Money Pit, can you eleborate on "Or you can create a new customized folder then placing it in the folder list at top and adding your shortcuts to the folder see games folder screenie for example as I have placed all of my game shortcuts in that folder." Not really sure what you're referring to.

Thanks also Fafhrd. I found this page, which is somewhat related File Manager under Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008. I tried getting the Progman.exe file to run (both in your link & a copy I had from XP) but like you, even with a lot of compatibility back and forth (different OS's, etc.) NOGO.

Seems like this shouldn't be so hard...

You could also create a new Folder and place a shortcut for each program you want it in it, then add that folder as a new ToolBar. I do this for System Tools because I use a lot of them in posts I make here and on other forums.

You might like this;

Folder Menu 3

Regards....Mike Connor

Sorry about that, I also forgot to mention that the program data folder is hidden by default since I have always had it unhidden.

However our Tutorial expert Brink has written this tutorial Start Menu All Programs - Add or Delete Shortcuts that explains 10 times better than what I was trying to say.

In Step 4 of Brinks tutorial you can create a new folder, rename to what you want then place the applicable shortcuts inside. So if you look at Brinks example screen shot in step 4 and notice the new folder called maintenance you could place all of your maintenance type shortcuts into this folder, IE: registry cleaner , fragmentation tools, HDD testing tools - etc.